Grave box cover



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GRAVE BOX COVER F11ed sept. 3, 1941 4 sheets-'sheet 1 Attorney lOct. 6, 1942. .y w., H. cAwOOD 2,297,745

GRAVE BOX COVER Filed sept. s, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 :E IEQ'E @uw m.

Attorney Oct. 6, 1942. W H, CAWQQDA 2,297,745v

GRAVE BOX COVER Filed Sept. 5, 1941 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor h//u MM //aeA/Pr (14n/aap /Ag A Home) Oct. 6, 1942.

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GRAVE BOX COVER Filed Sept. 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Attorney Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAVE BOX COVER William Hobart Cawood, Middleboro, Ky.

Application September 3, 1941, Serial No. 409,428

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and'useful improvements in covers for grave boxes after the box has been placed in the grave to protect the box from becoming crushed by the earth used for filling the grave, the cover being constructed in sections.

An important object of the invention is to provide a protective cover of this character that is strong and durable, also capable of being collapsed into a compact form when not in use, and easy t install in position in the grave.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in Which- Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on a line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a pair of the sections of the cover.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the manipulating tool.

Figure 7 is a similar view of a one-man tool.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the footpieces.

Figure 9 is a similar view of a modified form of footpiece.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of cover.

Figure 11 is a vertical transverse sectional 35 neet the pairof sections in sliding relation. Also the side edges of each pair of sections overlap the side edges of an adjacent pair of sections to close the space between the sections and thus prevent the earth from falling onto the top of the box.

Each section of the protective cover is formed with a raised bracket II of substantially inverted U-form having it sends welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper surface of the sections adjacent the ends thereof.

The brackets are adapted to receive the foot pieces I2 of a manipulating tool designated generally at I3 for sliding the sections into and out of position in the channels. The tool comprises a pair of legs III-I4 pivoted intermediate their ends as shown at I5, the lower ends of the legs having the foot pieces I2 secured thereto by a lug I6 rising from the foot piece. Each foot piece includes a laterally extending base I1 adapted to enter the bracket II and an angular member I8 secured on top of the base I'I and with one end free and extending outwardly and spaced above the base to overlie the bracket.

In the modified form of foot piece shown in Figure 9, the end of the base is provided with an upwardly extending flange I9 to engage behind the bracket to slide the cover sections inwardly into their retracted positions free of the chan- 304 nels in order to remove the cover, when desired.

The upper ends of the leg I4-I4 of the tool have horizontal handles 2li-20 attached thereto, the handles in Figure 6 extending in opposite directions toward opposite sides of the grave for use by two attendants, and in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 7, the handles 2I-2I extend in a uniform direction for use by a single attendant. A link 22 is used to connect one of the handles 2I to the leg in order to space Referring now to the drawings in detail the the handles vertically from each other to provide numeral 5 designates the conventional form of grave box which is lowered into the grave 6. In order to protect the box from weight of earth used for lling the grave, I provide a protective cover 'I which is formed of corrugated sections 45 for sufficient room therebetween during manipulation thereof.

Braces 22-22 connected each leg to the respective foot pieces, the legs having slots 23-23 above the pivot in which pins 24-24 carried by the braces are slidable during opening and closing movement of the tool.

After assembling the pairs of cover plates and placing the same in position in the grave over the box, the tool is used to engage the brackets I I and slide the plates transversely into channels 25 formed in the side walls of the grave.

In Figures 10 to 12, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified cover construction which comprises the side edges of the companion section to cona plurality of corrugated metal Sheets 26 of a,

length in excess of the width of the grave 2l and adapted to have their ends inserted in the channel 28 in the side Walls of the grave above the box 29.

Thev sheets 26 are positioned transversely of the grave with their side edges in overlapping relation, and when placing the sheets in position the same are lowered in a horizontal position in the grave longitudinally thereof and then turned transversely of the grave in order that the ends of the sheets will enter the channel.

Handles 3Q are soldered or Welded to the upper surface of the sheets 26 to facilitate handling and placing them in the desired position.

It is believed the details of construction, operation and manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A protective cover for grave bo'xes when said boxes are positioned in a grave, said cover comprising a plurality of rigid plates, and means slidably connecting the plates for extensible movement-l laterally in the grave.

2. A protective cover for grave boxes when said boxes are positioned in a grave, said cover comprising a plurality of rigid plates, guide means on two of the edges of one plate slidably receiving the edges of an adjoining plate and connecting the plates in overlapping relation, and brackets on the upper surfaces of said plates for the reception of a manipulating tool to slide the plates toward an adjacent wall of the grave.

3. A protective cover for grave boxes when said boxes are positioned in a grave, said cover comprising a plurality of rigid plates, guide means on two of the edges of one plate slidably receiving the edges of an adjoining plate and connecting the plates in overlapping relation, and inverted U-shaped brackets secured to the upper surfaces of the plates, and adapted for engagement by a tool for slidably actuating the plates into and out of engagement with the walls of the grave.

WILLIAM HOBART CAWOOD. 

